MOTOR AND CYCLE NOTES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16036, 29 January 1920, Page 6

MOTOR AND CYCLE NOTES.

FOR THE MAN ON THE WHEEL

By “CLUTCH.” There is such a demand for motor cycles in England that there is said to be 30 orders awaiting every machine that leaves the factory. The problem of delivery appears to be as bad in this branch of the motor industry as in the car section.

The latest motor car registration figures to hand from America show that all told 6,786,550 motor vehicles are now registered. These include passenger cars and motor trucks. This means that there is practically one motor vehicle for every 15 persons in the United States.

Eecent labour strikes have seriously affected the output of cars in America. When one firm is behind 60,000, it can be realised what the total setback must be in the American motor industry.

' THE SPECULATOR. Tiie speculator is becoming a menace in tlie_ English motor trade. Getting in early, and securing supplies of the most popular makes of cars, he then passes them on to impatient motorists at prices greatly in advance of the makers’ retail figures. The Rolls-Royce Company have been one of the victims of this class of trade, and with a view of endeavouring to minimise the trouble have issued the following letter to the English press: "During the war our second-hand chassis changed hands at fantastic prices. Now very large sums of money are being paid to people who have ordered their post-war chassis for the right of precedent in delivery secured by them. The abnormal demand is exciting the cupidity of speculators. We have for some time refused orders for our chassis from those who are obviously ordering with a view to selling at a premium. We have done this solely for the protection of the bonafide purchaser who intends to use the car he buys. We have inserted a clause in our order from whereby we claim the right to refuse the delivery of a car if we find it has been ordered for the purpose of speculation, and we, in common with all reputable motor factories, are doing our best to stamp out speculation and to protect the true motorist.”

TEST TYRES FREQUENTLY. When testing the air pressure in your tyres, do not overlook the spares, which are often neglected. It is very aggravating to have a puncture, and find that the spare is flat; and it ia far easier to inflate it -with power compressor and air hose than by hand pump on the road.

SIDE PLATES FOR WHEELS. The disc wheels recently offered to motorists are becoming more and more popular, so a recently developed acces sory is a pair of light sheet-metal discs to be applied to the ordinary wood-and-wire spoked wheel to enclose it and give the appearance of the disced wheel. While this does not add appreciably to the strength of the support afforded the axle, it does give the advantage of thorough enclosure that facilitates cleaning.

A FLEXIBLE GARAGE

With a view to future expansion, a New York company running a system of motor-buses, lias constructed one of its garages on the plan of a sectional bookcase. That is to say, the building to-day is one story high, but privision has been made to add another story whenever the volume of business warrants it. This garage is built on a sloping street, so that the upper end is level with the street. In this manner it becomes possible to arrange a driveway from the street to the roof. Post foundations are in place, and the day when additional covered-in space is needed, the extra story can be built.-

CARBURETTOR AIR CLEANER

All good agricultural tractors are now fitted with air washers and cleaners to assure thta no grit shall get into the cylinders through the carburettor. As a consequence of this, there is some interest in similar applications to trucks and passenger cars as well, especially when these are operated over dirt, gravel or macadam roads. Some of the cleaners operate on the centrifugal principle, otbers are of the water-washer type. The former is the more compact, and will indubitably be employed on the lighter varieties of conveyance. This gives a very effective way of separating road dust from the air before it can get to the carburettor.

HOUSES FOR EMPLOYEES

PENNSYLVANIA LUBBER CO. HAS FIFTY MORE HOMES IN COURSE OF ERECTION.

So convinced has it become that its “Homse for Workmen” movement fills a real need that the Pennsylvania Rubber Co., Jeanette, Pa., has given out a contract for fifty more houses, with an ultimate goal of 1600 homes. The original building contract comprised twelve houses, and it was the eagerness with which these were taken that convinced the company that its efforts to provide its employees with clean and comfortable dwellings was appreciated. The second allotment of fifty is now well under way and it is expected that ten will be ready for occupancy by December 15th and the entire fifty in the early Spring. Every effort is made in constructing

tliese homes to get as far away as possible from “company houses” in the commonly accepted use of the phrase. They are thoroughly modern in every respect, containing five, six and seven rooms, and are finished in stucco, brick and frame. Each has a cemented cellar, furnace, built-in fireplaces, gas and electric lights, hot and cold water and perfectly appointed bathrooms of most modern design. The town-plan arrangement is being applied to the entire plot and will include graded and improved streets, public square and a recreation park and community center. Educational facilities have been looked after and arrangements made for expansion when useful. The selling plan for these homes contemplates a nominal initial payment and monthly payments spread over a period of years. Property values are increasing daily and the purchaser is thus not only insured the contentment of having his own home but also of having a profitable return on the original investment. While planned primarily to provide homes for its constantly growing number of employees 'no nonemployee of accredited character and standing is refused, it being part of the plan to help take care of the nominal growth, of the city as well.